Day Out: Archive Films

Originally broadcast in 1986 was this charming half-hour television programme which took a look round the South East Cotswolds.

As part of the BBC's 'Day Out' series - which visited a different Gloucestershire and West Country locale every week - presenter Angela Rippon is seen exploring the area.

Angela Rippon at Chedworth Villa

She begins in Northleach famous for its wool production, and visits the Northleach House of Correction which was opened in 1791. It housed young offenders and was a "landmark in prison reform". The buildings now house a museum and The Cotswold Countryside Collection - made up of items illustrating agricultural history.

Chedworth Villa is the next stop. Discovered in 1864 it is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain.  We get  a history of the villa, and see many of its interesting features such as the bath house and the dining room with its impressive mosaic.

Inside Fairford Church

Angela then makes her way to Bibury - once described by William Morris as "the most beautiful village in England". In the picturesque Arlington Row she meets local resident John Ford who tells of the problems of "living in a goldfish bowl" with hundreds of tourists peering into his home. She visits Arlington Mill with its museum and collection of period clothing, before moving on to Barnsley House and its ornamental gardens.

The next stop is Fairford where we see the parish church which was a gift of John Tame - a rich wool merchant in the 1490s. Inside the church Angela sits on one of the beautifully carved miserichords in the choir stalls. We then see the 28 stunning windows - the only complete set of medieval stained glass windows in the country.

The American Airbase at Fairford is Angela's next stop. Here she meets falcon handler Sarah Philp who explains why the birds are so important for the running of the airbase. Inside the base's fire station Angela gets up close to "Big Bertha", the "biggest fire engine in the world", and outside on the runway she gets to man the turret.

Power Boating at the Cotswold Water Park

Then it's on to Lechlade - the highest navigable point on the Thames. Here we see the town's churchyard. Archaeologist David Miles is interviewed about a recent dig at a nearby Saxon cemetery, and we learn of one burial whose female occupant was nicknamed "Mrs Getty" because of the wealth of grave goods that were discovered.

Finally Angela visits the Cotswold Water Park where she meets power boat owner and Commodore of the Cotswold Motor Boat Racing Club, Derek Thompson, before trying her hand at driving a power boat.

Check out the other fascinating films from the 'Day Out' series which were filmed in Gloucestershire by clicking on the links at the top right of this page.